Brouwerijen Alken-Maes
Commercial Brewery
in Alken,
Limburg,
Belgium 🇧🇪
Owned by
Brouwerijen Alken-Maes NV/SA - Heineken Belgium
Established in 1988
Contact
Subsidiaries
Description
Winning innovator on the Belgian beer market with brands such as Maes, Cristal, Desperados, Grimbergen, Affligem, Strongbow and Mort Subite.
De “Brouwerijen Alken-Maes NV” ontstond officieel in 1988, als gevolg van de fusie van de brouwerijen Maes en Cristal Alken. Maar de roots van beide entiteiten gaat terug tot omstreeks 1880. In Waarloos kocht Egied Maes toen nl. de brouwerij Sint-Michaël, terwijl korte tijd later Arthur Boes een brouwerij startte in Alken, zo’n 100 km verderop.
Beide brouwerijen ontwikkelen zich stelselmatig, met bv. Cristal dat in 1928 als eerste Belgische pils het licht ziet. Maes Pils volgt in 1946. Nadien vervoegen Grimbergen, Ciney en andere bieren de portfolio, tot aan de fusie in 1988. Na onderdeel te hebben uitgemaakt van Danone en Scottish & Newcastle, wordt Alken-Maes in 2008 eigendom van Heineken.
De “Brouwerijen Alken-Maes NV” ontstond officieel in 1988, als gevolg van de fusie van de brouwerijen Maes en Cristal Alken. Maar de roots van beide entiteiten gaat terug tot omstreeks 1880. In Waarloos kocht Egied Maes toen nl. de brouwerij Sint-Michaël, terwijl korte tijd later Arthur Boes een brouwerij startte in Alken, zo’n 100 km verderop.
Beide brouwerijen ontwikkelen zich stelselmatig, met bv. Cristal dat in 1928 als eerste Belgische pils het licht ziet. Maes Pils volgt in 1946. Nadien vervoegen Grimbergen, Ciney en andere bieren de portfolio, tot aan de fusie in 1988. Na onderdeel te hebben uitgemaakt van Danone en Scottish & Newcastle, wordt Alken-Maes in 2008 eigendom van Heineken.
3.9/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 4
Flavor 3
Texture 4
Overall 3.5
Golden color. Light sensations, light tartness, just some simple malt; wood. Poor.
Tried
on 29 Dec 2003
at 08:59
4.9/10
—
Appearance 4
Aroma 5
Flavor 5
Texture 4
Overall 5.5
2013-07-03, draught at Het Brouwcafe, Scheveningen, 5-2-5-2-11=25
Light malt aroma. Clean flavor, with some malt; the only flaw is a light paper note in the end.
Simple but drinkable.
2003-12-21, bottle, 3-2-3-2-4=14
Blond color, poor head. Simple aroma, hop. Dry taste, bitter, but no flavors. Anonymous.
Tried
from Bottle
on 24 Dec 2003
at 21:35
8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Dark amber color, creamy head. Light sweet malt aroma, some hops and caramel; light but nice; sweet oranges. Good body strength, balanced; enough malt and caramel flavor, some sweetness. Correct final, quite long (with caramel).
Tried
on 25 Nov 2003
at 11:03
6.5/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Blond color. Some malt aroma, sweet, ; coriander; lightly fruity. Good body strength, quite sweet and malty, light bitterness; a bit spicy.
Tried
on 25 Nov 2003
at 11:02
5.6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 4
Overall 5.5
Spicy and maltish aroma. Dark golden, lowish head. Malt, spices, some alcohol and esters noticable. Lightbodied. Somewhat boring.
Tried
on 02 Nov 2003
at 12:41
5.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 4
Overall 5.5
2008-03-25, 6-4-6-2-11=29
Brown color; creamy head. Despite the nice appearance, this beer is quite simple, with a too light aroma (with some cookies), a caramel flavor and low bitterness. A bit metallic, it requires to be warm. Common.
2003-10-09, 7-5-8-4-15=39
Amber color; creamy head. Strong malty aroma, orange peels and some alcohol. Quite round, but most of all bitter taste, much more bitter than the average Belgian Strong Ale. Ends with a long bitterness (and bitter, roasted caramel).
Brown color; creamy head. Despite the nice appearance, this beer is quite simple, with a too light aroma (with some cookies), a caramel flavor and low bitterness. A bit metallic, it requires to be warm. Common.
2003-10-09, 7-5-8-4-15=39
Amber color; creamy head. Strong malty aroma, orange peels and some alcohol. Quite round, but most of all bitter taste, much more bitter than the average Belgian Strong Ale. Ends with a long bitterness (and bitter, roasted caramel).
Tried
on 10 Oct 2003
at 03:46
9/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 9
Beautiful amber color; generous, creamy head. Intense aroma: malt, caramel, brown sugar, banana, orange peel. Very strong body, well bearing the alcohol content, warming. Round and malty, sweet in the front; orange peels and caramel, light liquorice. Would be perfect with some more fruitness (easier to find in the English Ales) and a more bitter final.
Tried
on 09 Oct 2003
at 08:27
7.5/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Golden color; nice perlage and magnificent head, giant and creamy. Malt aroma, citrus fruits, bread, spices; a fresh garden. Some malt flavor, some sweetness, very light liquorice, alcohol touch. Ordinary final. Easy to drink, but not outstanding.
Tried
on 03 Oct 2003
at 03:43
7/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Confirm that the head does disappear fast. Nice spicy nose, nots of curacao, some maderisation (like a porto), in the mouth, the alcohol is very present, with candy sugar, some bitterness in after taste...enjoyable
Tried
from Can
on 29 Sep 2003
at 23:12
7.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Opening of the bottle releases a whiff of yeasty tartness. Citric, sweet banana and a bit bitter nose. Hazy white-yellow, creamy white head is not as impressive as with other wit. Subtle fruity flavors (citrus, banana). Pleasant velvet mouthfeel. Crisp aftertaste.
Tried
from Bottle
on 23 Sep 2003
at 13:19